Experimental optimization of a landmine detection facility using PGNAA method

Experimental optimization of a landmine detection facility using PGNAA method 1 first-author 1 corresp Corresponding author. E-mail address: panjeh@gmail.com Corresponding author. E-mail address: panjeh@gmail.com panjeh@gmail.com 1 FUM Radiation Detection and Measurement Laboratory, Physics Department, Ferdowsi University of Mashhad, Mashhad, Iran FUM Radiation Detection and Measurement Laboratory, Physics Department, Ferdowsi University of Mashhad, Mashhad, Iran The optimum moderator geometry increases the performance of prompt gamma neutron activation analysis (PGNAA) method considerably. In this work an 241 Am-Be source was used in the moderator geometry for detecting buried landmines by PGNAA method. Experiments were done to find the best moderator geometry for the moderated 241 Am-Be source, by replacing the mine with a neutron detector and counting the thermal neutron flux. The flux of thermal neutrons at the place of mine was used as a determining factor to introduce the best moderator geometry. Am-Be neutron source Landmine detection Optimization BF 3 detector PGNAA References Lunardon M , Nebbia G , Pesente S , et al . Appl Radiat Isot , 2004 , 61 : 43 - 49 . Appl Radiat Isot Kuznetsov A V , Evsenin A V , Gorshkov I Y , et al . Appl Radiat Isot , 2004 , 61 : 51 - 57 . Appl Radiat Isot Nebbia G , Pesente S , Lunardon M , et al . Nucl Phys A , 2005 , 752 : 649c - 658c . Nucl Phys A Gerl J , Ameilb F , Kojouharova I , et al . Nucl Instrum Meth A , 2004 , 525 : 328 - 331 . Nucl Instrum Meth A Datema C P , Bom V R , Eijk C W E V . Nucl Instrum Meth A , 2002 , 488 : 441 - 450 . Nucl Instrum Meth A Yuk S , Kim K H , Yi Y . Nucl Instrum Meth A , 2006 , 568 : 388 - 392 . Nucl Instrum Meth A Clifford E T H , McFee J E , Ing H , et al . Nucl Instrum Meth A , 2007 , 579 : 418 - 425 . Nucl Instrum Meth A Miri-Hakimabad H , Panjeh H , Vejdani-Noghreiyan A . Appl Radiat Isot , 2007 , 65 : 918 - 926 . Appl Radiat Isot Miri-Hakimabad H , Vejdani-Noghreiyan A , Panjeh H . J Radiol Prot , 2007 , 27 : 457 - 464 . J Radiol Prot Khelifi R , Amokrane A , Bode P . Nucl Instrum Meth B , 2007 , 262 : 329 - 332 . Nucl Instrum Meth B Miri-Hakimabad H , Vejdani-Noghreiyan A , Panjeh H . Asian J Exp Sci , 2007 , 21 : 249 - 258 . Asian J Exp Sci ICRP Publication 60: 1990 recommendations of the international commission on radiological protection . Ann ICRP , 1991 , 21 . ICRP Publication 60: 1990 recommendations of the international commission on radiological protection Zuin L , Innocenti F , Fabris D , et al . Nucl Instr Meth A , 2000 , 449 : 416 - 426 . Nucl Instr Meth A 10.1016/S1001-8042(08)60033-0 O657.4,TJ51 + 2 2007-10-16 2008-04-20 2021-01-19 2008 Nuclear Science and Techniques 02 19